Sling Keeper

ABSTRACT

A sling having a strap with a first section and a second section where the width of the first section is less than the width of the second section and a rectangular slot located in the second section for receiving the first section. A strip of loop fastener material is attached to the reverse side of the first section and a patch of cotton material absent hook or loop fastener material attached to the obverse side of the second section adjacent the rectangular slot to engage the strip of loop fastener material on the reverse side of the first section when the first section is located in the rectangular slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to slings for hand held guns and more specifically to a sling having a strap with a first section and a second section where the width of the first section is less than the width of the second section and a rectangular slot is located in the second section for receiving the first section. A strip of loop fastener material is attached to the reverse side of the first section and a patch of cotton material absent hook or loop fastener material is attached to the obverse side of the second section adjacent the rectangular slot to engage the strip of loop fastener material on the reverse side of the first section when the first section is located in the rectangular slot.

2. Description of Related Art

Gun support devices are known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. PreGrant Publication No. 2007/0023467 to Spreer discloses a sling with a pocket which is attached to a waist belt to removably carry the stock end of a rifle. The sling includes a holder that holds the barrel end of the rifle at the front of the person.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,254 to Kakouras discloses a gun sling having a pair of padded straps where each strap is separately adjustable by a sliding clip at a point below the padded shoulder portion for operation by the user. The padded portion of each strap has fastening means which allows the padded shoulder portions to be attached to each other for storage and use over one shoulder.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,502 to Johnson discloses a sling for a military assault rifle or carbine where the length of the sling can be extended quickly and quietly and then easily and quietly retracted to the original length. A quick release plate and an engagement member cooperate to hold a loop of strap material to provide the shorter configuration of the sling, and the quick release plate can pass over the engagement member to lengthen the sling when the quick release plate is turned to a position perpendicular to the length of the sling.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,294 to Gann discloses a sling with first and second straps and a shoulder pad therebetween which are releasably attachable to a user's belt. A flexible strap having a Velcro fastener extends from the sling assembly for connection to a Velcro fastener previously placed on a gun. Upon wrapping the strap about the stock, a releasable connection occurs between the Velcro straps/

U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,492 to Thompson discloses a sling having a flexible strap that has a first end that is rotatively attached to the rifle adjacent its butt end and a second end which is attached to the rifle at the forearm portion of the stock of the rifle near the muzzle end of the barrel of the rifle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,532 to Miller, et al. discloses retaining elements which are adapted to be positioned along an intermediate extent of a rifle such that the rifle is secured along a user's back proximate to the spine and can be used in conjunction with a belt worn about the waist of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,756 to Hightower discloses an elongated pad and a sling member. One end the pad has a thumb loop for over-the-shoulder carrying of the firearm and at an opposite end the pad has a protective piece of material under a sling swivel to prevent damage to the firearm stock.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,170 to Norris discloses a sling having a belt that fits about the waist and a shoulder strap that passes over the shoulder and fastens to the belt at both ends. The shoulder strap includes two chest mounting members that hold the gun adjacent the chest so that a user can carry the gun without using his hands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,610 to Barron discloses a sling having an elongatet holding strap having a base end, a tip end, and a mechanism affixed to the ends for securing the strap in a closed loop about a belt fastened about a user's waist; a hook having an upper end, a lower end, a bend therebetween, and a pair of opposed cutouts formed on the bend and with each cutout sized for receiving a stock of a rifle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,558 to Martinez discloses a main strap with its ends attached to a gun to form a shoulder engaging loop. The main strap has two separate segments which are adjustably, so that the size of the loop is selective to the rifle or shotgun carrier.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,505 to Olschlager discloses an elongated central strap with a rear pocket and a forward sleeve for a shotgun. A medial strap is mounted pivotally to the central strap for adjustment and securement of the shotgun.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,998 to Johnson discloses a sling strap connected to sling swivels mounted on the rifle in the conventional positions at the bottom of the butt stock and forestock, by loops which encircle the butt stock and the front portion of the rifle. The rear part of the sling strap is fixed to the rear loop, which is long enough to surround the butt stock and to slip rearwardly off the butt stock as the weapon is raised to the shooter's shoulder. The front end of the strap is free to hang down beside the front portion of the rifle with only the front loop around the top of the weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a sling having a strap with a first section and a second section where the width of the first section is less than the width of the second section and a rectangular slot located in the second section for receiving the first section. A strip of loop fastener material is attached to the reverse side of the first section and a patch of cotton material absent hook or loop fastener material attached to the obverse side of the second section adjacent the rectangular slot to engage the strip of loop fastener material on the reverse side of the first section when the first section is located in the rectangular slot.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the obverse side of a rifle sling keeper in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the reverse side of the rifle sling keeper of FIG. 1 in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rifle sling keeper being attached to a rifle sling in its stowed away position; and

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show the steps of positioning the sling keeper onto a rifle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Conventional slings which are used with rifles are made of a flexible strap of fabric where one end is attached to a clip at the stock end of the rifle and the other end is attached to a clip at the barrel end of the rifle. When being used to carry the rifle, the sling is placed over the user's shoulder. A disadvantage is that the rifle cannot be used until the sling is removed from around the user's body which takes time and does not allow the user to rapidly position his rifle for use. Sometimes conventional rifle slings are intended to be positioned on and remain on the person when the rifle is fired. A disadvantage of such slings is that the sling must be repositioned to use the rifle.

Accordingly, there is disclosed a sling keeper that is used to allow a person to carry his rifle as he normally would do and yet allows him to quickly remove the rifle from his body and position the rifle for use.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is disclosed a view of the obverse side of a rifle sling keeper in accordance with the principles of the invention. The sling keeper 10 can be composed of a fabric or a plastic where a preferred plastic material is polypropylene. The sling keeper has a length of about fifty three inches, more or less, a thickness of between one-eighth and one-quarter of an inch, and consists of a first section 12 at one end which is aligned with a second section 14 at the other end. The first section has a length of about eight inches and a width of about one inch, more or less and forms a shoulder 16 where it joins the second section which has a length of about forty five inches and a width of about one and one-half inches more or less.

A slot 18 located in the second section about one-quarter of an inch back from the shoulder 16 has a length of about one inch and a width of about one-quarter of an inch more or less. The slot 18 is sized to receive the first section 12. A patch of material 20 located on the second section about one inch back from the shoulder 16 and about one-half of an inch from the slot 18 is securely attached to the second surface with an adhesive such as an epoxy. The patch of material can have a square shape which can be between one inch and one and one-half inchs, more or less, or the patch of material can have a rectangular shape. The patch of material can be composed of cotton, wool or of a fabric material having an open weave where a preferred material is cotton. The patch has no hook or loop fasteners. A finger grip 22 which extends back from the end of the second section for a distance of about one inch is located on the obverse and reverse sides of the second section.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a view of the reverse side of the rifle sling keeper of FIG. 1. Located on the first section 12 and extending back for a distance of about three and one-half inches is a strip of material 24 having loop fasteners such as the loops of Velcro fasteners. The strip of loop material 24 is attached to the first section with an adhesive such as an epoxy. A strip of material 26 having hook fasteners such as the hooks of Velcro fasteners is located about one inch back from the shoulder 16 and is securely attached to the second surface with an adhesive such as an epoxy. The strip of hook material can have a rectangular shape with a width of about one inch and a length of about six inches, and is attached to the second section with an adhesive of, for example, an epoxy. A strip of hook fastener material 28 located adjacent to the finger grip 22 extends back along the reverse side of the second section for a distance of about eight inches and is as wide as the second section. The strip of hook material 28 is attached to the second section with an adhesive such as an epoxy.

Starting at a distance of about nine inches from the end of the second section and extending for a distance of about ten inches, where a distance of four and one-half inches is preferable, is a strip of loop material 30 which has a length of about seventeen inches and a width that is equal to the width of the second section. The strip of loop material 30 is attached to the second section with an adhesive such as an epoxy.

The sling keeper disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 quickly attaches to any gun sling with soft connections. Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the sling keeper being attached to a rifle in its stowed away position. The sling keeper attaches to a rifle at the barrel end. The eight inch long first section 12 of the strap is threaded under the sling at the ring junction, is then brought over the top and is slid into slot 18. The first section is now pulled tight and the loop material 24 on the first section is pressed onto the strip of hook material 26 on the reverse side of the second section. The user now slides his hand down the sling keeper to the end of the second section and brings it up and attaches it to the patch of cotton material 20 on the obverse side of the second section. The sling keeper is now in its stowed position.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, to use the sling keeper, the user picks up his rifle by the sling and pulls the sling keeper off the patch of material 20 (FIG. 4) and lets it fall (FIG. 5). He swings his gun on his shoulder as he would normally do. As he does this (FIG. 6), the sling keeper swings around his back where he grabs it with his hand and brings it across his chest, sliders it under the sling and brings it back over the top and pulls it snug. He then pushes the hook fastener material 28 and loop fastener material 30 together to attach the end of the sling keeper to the gun sling.

To take the sling keeper apart, he just pulls the hook material 28 apart from the loop material 30 and let it fall. It comes off with hardly any movement at all.

To turn the sling keeper into a mountaineering sling, undue the sling keeper and slide your hand down to the hook end and bring it over your shoulder, down the front of your chest and then swing your hand around your back at your waist. As you do this, with your other hand push your gun at the trigger area towards the middle of your back. When your hands meet, grab the sling keeper and wrap it around the stock of the gun and go under the trigger guard. Then grab the sling keeper with the other hand and push together the hook and loop parts. That's it, its on.

To take the mountaineering sling apart just separate the hook and loop sections and let fall, it comes apart with hardly any movement at all.

After you get into your stand and release the sling keeper, drop the sling keeper through the center of the sling, wrap it around once, then attach to the square patch of material. This way the sling keeper wont swing independently from your sling. The keeper and the sling are one,

The sling keeper is also a sling all by itself. You attach it the same way as you did before except you go around the gun barrel, then take the other end and wrap it around the stock just below the trigger guard with the empty section of the sling keeper in-between the hook and loop sections. Then push the hook and loop areas together. If the rifle or shot gun has rings, use them for an even better connection.

The sling keeper also helps to make you a better shot. Normally as you lift the sling up and off with your thumb you reach around with your other hand and grab the fore stock to slide the gun off your shoulder. Once you have grabbed the fore stock, your other hand has grabbed the butt stock just below the trigger guard. You let go of the fore stock because as you did that the sling keeper has come over your wrist. You wrap the sling keeper around your wrist, then once again around your wrist, and then grab your fore stock again. This makes you one with your gun and it is much easier to hold your gun steady for a better shot because it automatically pulls your fire arm into your shoulder for the proper shooting position and also eliminates Scope Eye.

The sling keeper allows you to have both hand free at all times when in mountaineering position. It gives you a narrow profile which is great when you travel through the brush and walk normally through the woods. Also both hands are free when climbing your tree sand or dragging your deer.

The sling keeper also becomes a deer drag (it works best with two sling keepers and a buddy).

The sling keeper also becomes a dog leash which attaches to your wrist.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled. 

1. A sling comprising: a strap having a first section and a second section wherein the width of the first section is less than the width of the second section; a rectangular slot located in the second section for receiving the first section; a strip of loop fastener material attached to the reverse side of the first section; and a patch of material attached to the obverse side of the second section adjacent the rectangular slot to engage the strip of loop fastener material on the reverse side of the first section when the first section is located in the rectangular slot.
 2. The sling of claim 1 wherein the patch of material is a fabric.
 3. The sling of claim 2 wherein loops or hooks fasteners are absent on the fabric.
 4. The sling of claim 2 wherein the fabric is a woven material.
 5. The sling of claim 4 wherein the fabric is made of cotton, wool or of a material having an open weave.
 6. The sling of claim 1 wherein a strip of hook fastener material is located on the reverse side of the second section adjacent the rectangular slot.
 7. The sling of claim 6 wherein the strap is compose of a fabric or a plastic.
 8. The sling of claim 7 wherein the plastic is polypropylene.
 9. The sling of claim 6 wherein a finger grip is located at the end of the second section.
 10. The sling of claim 9 wherein hook fastener material is located on the reverse side of the second section adjacent the finger grip.
 11. The sling of claim 10 wherein loop fastener material is located on the reverse side of the second section between the hook fastener material adjacent the rectangular slot and the hook fastener adjacent the finger grip.
 12. The sling of claim 11 wherein the loop fastener material is separated from the hook fastener material adjacent the finger grip by a distance of between three and ten inches.
 13. The sling of claim 12 wherein the distance is four and one-half inches.
 14. The sling of claim 13 wherein the hook fastener material on the reverse side of the second section adjacent the finger grip has a length of substantially eight inches.
 15. The sling of claim 14 wherein the loop fastener material on the reverse side of the second section between the hook fastener material adjacent the rectangular slot and the hook fastener adjacent the finger grip has a length of substantially seventeen inches.
 16. The sling of claim 15 wherein the hook fastener material on the reverse side of the second section adjacent the rectangular slot has a length of substantially six inches.
 17. The sling of claim 2 wherein the first section has a length of substantially eight inches and a width of substantially one inch.
 18. The sling of claim 2 wherein the second section has a length of substantially forty five inches and a width of substantially one and one-half inches. 